Tailbone pain (coccydinia) – get the facts

Pain in your tailbone, or coccyx, can be debilitating – learn some simple ways to ease it.

What are the symptoms?

What causes it?

Self-care tips to help

When to see a doctor

What are the treatments?

Can you prevent it? 

Where to get support

You can develop pain in your coccyx for various reasons – and whatever the cause, it can be very uncomfortable. Tailbone pain usually goes away on its own with simple home treatment, but sometimes you may need medical help. Discover how to ease it yourself, and when to see a healthcare professional. 


Coccydinia, or coccygodynia, are medical terms for tailbone pain. Your coccyx, or tailbone, is at the bottom of your spine. Despite the name, it’s not 1 bone – the coccyx is a small triangular-shaped structure made up of 3-5 vertebrae (the separate bones that make up your spinal column). 

Tailbone pain is common, and you can develop it for a number of different reasons. You can usually ease it at home with simple self-care measures, but if coccydinia doesn’t go away on its own, you may need treatment to help. 


## What are the symptoms?

The main symptom is pain and tenderness at the base of your spine. It may feel like a dull ache, with sharp pains at times, and it could affect your sleep and daily activities.

You may notice tailbone pain is worse when you: 

- are sitting down
- sit down, stand up, or bend forward
- are pooping
- are having sex
- have your period.


Get help with this

## What causes it?

Tailbone pain is usually the result of some kind of trauma, pressure, or strain. The most common causes include:

- __an injury to the area__, usually a backward fall directly onto your coccyx
- __pregnancy and childbirth__ – the area between your tailbone and pelvis softens and stretches in preparation for childbirth, and this may cause strain on the muscles and ligaments around your tailbone, so they can’t support it effectively 
- __repetitive strain on the area__ from sports like cycling and rowing
- __sitting for long periods__
- __being overweight__ – it can put pressure on your coccyx 
- __being underweight__, as you lack cushioning around the buttock area. You may be more likely to develop tailbone pain if you suddenly lose a lot of weight
- __poor posture__
- __joint hypermobility__ (having very flexible joints) – the joint that attaches the coccyx to the end of the spine may be affected.

Tailbone pain is more common in women than men – this may be partly due to the risks connected to childbirth. 


## Self-care tips to help
Your tailbone pain might get better after a few weeks, but it can take longer. Meanwhile, you can try some simple things to ease the pain:

- __check your posture when you’re sitting__ – make sure your lower back has support
- __sit on a cushion designed to take pressure off the area__, such as a wedge-shaped gel cushion, or try sitting on an exercise ball
- __have a hot bath__ to relax your muscles and ease pain
- __use hot or cold packs__ on your lower back, for 20-30 minutes, a few times a day
- __lie on your side__
- __take over-the-counter painkillers__ such as ibuprofen
- __take stool softeners__ to keep poop soft if the pain is worse when you have a bowel movement
- __avoid sitting for long periods__
- __don’t wear clothes that are tight__ around your butt and lower back. 

## When to see a doctor
See a healthcare professional about your tailbone pain if:

- coccyx pain isn’t better after a few weeks of home treatment
- pain is getting in the way of daily life 
- you also have a high fever, and pain in a different place, such as your lower back or tummy.
- 
They can examine the area, and may carry out tests including X-rays and MRI scans to check for other conditions, such as a fracture, infection, or joint changes. 

Very rarely, tailbone pain can be a sign of cancer, and signs can include numbness or tingling in your arms, legs or pelvic area, and difficulty peeing or pooping. See a healthcare professional urgently if you are having these symptoms. 


## What are the treatments?
Treatment from your healthcare professional depends on the underlying cause of your coccyx pain, and how severely it’s affecting you, but may include:

- an injection of numbing medications and steroids into the area, called a coccygeal nerve block – this can ease pain and inflammation
- massage therapy for short-term symptom relief
- physical therapy to stretch muscles and improve posture
- acupuncture
- TENS device (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)
- in rare cases, surgery to remove some or all of your coccyx (partial or total coccygectomy).


## Can you prevent it? 
Tailbone pain is usually the result of an injury of some kind, or may be a symptom of an underlying condition – so you can’t always prevent it. But you may be able to control some of the risk factors – for example, avoiding long periods of sitting, and getting to a healthy weight. 


## Where to get support
You can find information and resources for managing back pain from organizations including:

- [National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (US)](https://www.niams.nih.gov)
- [US Pain Foundation](https://uspainfoundation.org)
- [The British Pain Society](https://www.britishpainsociety.org/)


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References

Charlotte Haigh

Jo Wheatley

Dr Tamer T Malak

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Pain in your tailbone, or coccyx, can be debilitating – learn some simple ways to ease it.
